LeDs

Their best fighter is probably Bert who wont fight, lol. Would love to see the Wings pick up someone who could stick up for his teammates. The fans love a good fight, isn't that who is paying everyone's salaries? Give the fans what they want and help out the team at the same time. Too many soft players, definitely need more grit.

So far the Wings just lack the Hunger needed to Win the Cup. Scottie Bowman always commented it was important to have turnover in your roster in order to keep a successful team hungry.

Phoenix just wants it more than the Wings. They out-hit us and out hustled us. If you lose to a team that is better than you are that's one thing, but to lose because they played harder is inexcusable especially in the playoffs. The Wings know they cant just skate around and win on talent alone, so it makes you wonder why they are doing that. Unless someone shakes up things, right now, the Wings will be heading home after round one, and deservedly so.

Hindsight? We haven't even had time to look back yet. lol. Filppula is a solid two way center. Good on face offs. Solid penalty killer. He has upside offensively, he is only 24. Last year during the playoffs when it was all on the line he delivered. If he was playing on the top two lines he would have much better numbers. Compare him to Datsyuk and Zetterburg at the same age. Zetterburg was playing for Timra in Sweden and Datsyuk had about the same numbers. If Holland made a mistake it was by signing Hossa. By signing Hossa we had to put off signing Zetterburg, Franzen and Hudler. The way Franzen and Hudler are playing this may have been a big mistake. But if we win the cup again. Holland is brilliant.

I would rather see Helm, Leino or McCarty than Maltby. Maltby has always been a role player but he no longer plays the role. Loyalty goes both ways. Maltby should put more effort into his game. He no longer finishes his checks, doesn't agitate like he used to. He needs to pick up his intensity or retire.

Surprised everyone is for splitting up Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I think they have the best chemistry together of any pair in the N.H.L. Holmstrom is a perfect compliment for those two. Why break up a line you just won the cup with. Put Hossa with Filppula and Franzen.

Mac should be getting in the best shape he can and then go compete for a job with the Wings. If he doesn't make the team and is sent to Grand Rapids thats still $100,000. I wonder what he was making when he was out of hockey? If he thinks he deserves to be on the team, go out and prove it.

You can go into training camp over the salary cap but you would have to make moves before the start of the season to get under. I think thats what they will end up doing. Chelios will be on the team unless he decides to retire. "Cheli wants to be back, I told him we had a contract for him,'' Holland said. "We have sort of a gentleman's agreement.'' Mac would be stupid if he continues to turn down the two way contract. He still needs to work his way onto the team. Are there any other teams offering him a contract? They played Mac over Downey right off the bat so that would indicate they prefer Mac. Quincey cant be sent back down to G.R. so he has to make the club, clear waivers or be traded. I think he is a lock to make the club.

http://www.behindthejersey.com/2008/07/08/...-trading-block/ found the interview if this link works. http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/...y_and_Wojo_Show

Holland has stated that Lilja was signed as insurance in case the young guys dont work out. He also said that Lilja could very well be traded.

Great deal. The Wings had nobody in their organization to replace him with in the next few years. Not sure where the concern for the lack of scoring is coming from. He had more goals than Datsyuk or Z at the same age.

I have seen several versions of the team picture but I don't ever see Yzerman. Just curious as to why he isn't in the picture.

It amazes me just how many fans just dont get the make-up of a team. You need a mixture of guys. Young guys, veterans, skill players, grinders. If you dont have the right balance it creates a problem. I think Holland, Babcock, Bowman etc. know what they are doing. Why do you think we signed Drake? What did he bring to the team? Why did we re-sign Mac AND play him right away? Why did they put a rookie with hardly any NHL experience in the line-up for the playoffs? The WIngs haven't won the cup without having a couple of tough guys in the line-up. In 2002 we had Mac, Fischer and Shanahan. The difference between last year and this year is this year we were tougher , more intense and instead of backing down, we pushed back. If the Wings decide to go with a softer line-up it will be a mistake.

You cant have a team with all skill and no grit and win. Thats the reason we lost to the Ducks in the Conference finals last year. We added Drake and later Mac and Helm and that helped change the attitude of the team. Just take Datsyuk's comments about how he was hitting more because of watching Drake. For all of you who think we can just stay the same and win again thats not going to happen. Adding Hossa was great but he doesn't replace Drakes' intensity and grit. The reason its so hard to repeat is because the desire isn't as strong and players become complacent.

I would rather see Helm in the lineup rather than Hudler. At this point we have enough scoring need more speed and grit. Jury is still out on Kopecky IMO. He is a physical player and might turn out to be a surpise next year. Maltby needs to turn up his game, doesn't score, doesn't hit or agitate like he used to. We have plenty of penalty killers. No comparison to Draper and Maltby. Draper has continued to get better and Maltby hasn't.

Yes! Keep him. Chelios is a warrior. Babcock and Holland know what they are doing and they think he can help the team.

Shanny is soft..... If a team needs a player to stand around on the power play and wait for a one-timer then he is your guy. We need grit bad, especially after Dallas signing Avery. Too bad Helm isnt mean.

Wouldn't be suprised if someone makes a big offer for flip, just out of spite for the Wings. For all of you who dont really care if he leaves. Where is our secondary scoring going to come from when and if Hossa leaves? As far as the comments on letting Frazen go thats nuts. After Holmstrom he is our best player in front of the net and he is one of our few bigger more physical players. We are going to find out how loyal Flip and Franzen are to the wings. Hopefully they will be like Dats, Z and Lidstrom and take less to stay with the Wings. Should be interesting.

You need toughness and skill to win the cup. Thats exactly why the Wings brought in Drake and re-signed Mac. Hopefully they will add a couple more players like Drake and keep someone who can fight. I dont think Mac was completely in shape during the playoffs, he went from being out of shape to the NHL in a hurry, will be interesting to see how hard he works this off-season. The fact that Mac was put in the lineup over Downey so quickly tells me the Wings think he adds more to the lineup.

Jokinen went cheap because nobody was offering more than Phoenix. Jokinen has a rep for a bad attitude and he could end up being a cancer. I dont have much confidence in what Pheonix is doing, they seem to be re-making their team all the time and have made several dumb moves.

We have a logjam at the defenceman spot, especially the #5 and #6 positons. I dont understand why they would re-sign Lilja. No way he is a #4 guy. Keep Chelios! People have been saying he is too old since we traded for him 8 years ago. He is still a great penalty killer and is solid as a depth defenceman. Who better for our young defenceman to learn from. As Holland said he isn't about to start a youth movement. My money is on Chelios coming back strong.

On defense, Quincey has to make the club or pass through waivers. So he has to make the club or we lose him. I am all for keeping Chelios around he is warrior and is a valuable asset to the team. If we keep Stuart that would mean either Meech or Lebda would have to go. Ericsson can still be sent down without passing through waivers, so he may be sent back down even though it sounds like he is ready. As far as the forwards, the one player I would take a look at is Maltby. I know he is a fan favorite but what does he bring to the team? He doesn't hit like he used to, and when he does its soft hits. He isn't much of an agitator anymore and he doesn't score. He hasn't kept up his game like Draper has.

Chelios in for Lilja Mac in for Maltby Need some fresh life in the team after that loss. The team has to be drained and down. I think those two would help bring life into the team

Crosby is an idiot or maybe just too immature to be a captain. He never holds himself accountable and instead of saying they need to play better he makes excuses. His comment "if we chip the puck in we will get the puck or they will take penalties, if we use our speed they wont be able to handle us" Does he know who Lidstrom is?